Morphology of the epithelial component of human lung hamartomas.

Unusual ultrastructural bodies were found in about one-fifth of the epithelial cell nculei in three cases of pulmonary hamartoma. Those bodies often appear to be twisted tubules with recognizable branching. Morphologically different structures are also seen in occasional nuclei. Although the nature and significance of the bodies are obscure, they may represent different stages of development of the same structure. Similar bodies have not been encountered to date in any of our other examinations of epithelial cells.